"Come inside," said the red-eyed man without altering his expression. He held open the door to the parlour, then followed the detective in.
"Now, what's all this about your Gazettes?"
"Simply that I was told by a regular customer that I could deal here for my wants."
"His name?"
"I don't think I ought to tell you that. Why all this fuss? I've money."
"I don't want your money. Come on, now, didn't this man tell you to say something to me?"
"No— at least he may have done, but I've probably forgotten it," parried Bray. "I was a bit drunk at the time."
The man's wary expression changed to one of anger.
"You're makin' a plain fool of me with your Gazette. Get out of my shop if you can't do better than waste my time!"
Bray accepted the rebuke. That the man was engaged in some illicit bu
